Before California Fires, PG&E Customers Were Suing Company for Utility “Smart” Meter Fires and Explosions

By B.N. Frank

Over the past few years, PG&E customers have filed lawsuits claiming that the utility company’s “Smart” Meters had caught fire on their homes. Insurance companies seemed to take their side which seems reasonable considering that in Stockton, CA, hundreds of PG&E smart meters simultaneously exploded after a truck caused a power surge in 2015. Kaboom.

We’ll probably never know how much of a role – if any – that PG&E “Smart” Meters played in the devastating California fires. However, we do know that “Smart Meter” fires and explosions aren’t isolated to PG&E. Hundreds of thousands have been recalled or replaced throughout North America due to failure, malfunctioning, overheating, fires and explosions:

Remote disconnect switch failure resulted in a recall of over 10,000 “smart” meters in Lakeland, Florida where 6 house fires occurred
More Fires, More Smart Meter Recalls for Sensus: Utilities pull 105,000 meters in Canada, 70,000 in Oregon; Sensus says it’s not at fault
PECO halts Smart Meter Installation After Meter Overheating
Reno, Sparks fire chiefs to call for Smart Meter Probe
Power surge raises questions about SmartMeters. East Palo Alto electricity surge burnt out digital meters
Surge Blows Smart Meters Leaves Neighbourhood Without Hydro
Thousands of Smart Meter Fires: New Whistleblower and Court Evidence
BCUC & Smart Meter Fires: The Failure to Protect (See pages 27-30 for statements from engineers)

In 2016, Duke Energy denied any of their AMI “Smart” Meters had caught fire, In 2018, they admitted that some had.

People have every right to not want “Smart” Meters on their homes and throughout their communities. They cause other issues besides fires and explosions. They are also costly and utility companies raise customer rates to install as well as replace them.

Regardless, utility companies and their supporters continue to promote these meters as beneficial to customers (ha!) and eco-friendly (not!) because they are more profitable TO THEM than original analog meters. Many elected officials and state organizations have been trying to stop their forced installation. Unfortunately, current legislation protects utility companies – not utility customers.

A documentary was produced about the “Smart Grid” and utility “Smart” Meters in 2013 – Take Back Your Power. It was updated in 2017 and is free to watch online. Filmmaker Josh del Sol recently released more updates on a 2015 video about these problematic meters as well.

More details about awful utility “Smart” Meters can be found in our archives.